Controlled ventilated container



Nov. 9,1948. l. l-nLL 1 2,453,574

CONTROLLED VENTI LATED CONTAINER Filed May 13, 1946 INVENTOR.

[RV/N6 HILL ATTORNE Y5.

Patented Nov. 9, 1948 CONTROLLEDVENTILATED comm s Irving Hill, Lawrence, Kans., assignor to The Lawrence Paper Company, Lawrence, Kana, a corporation of Kansas Application May 13, 1946, Serial No. 669,406

8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers having controlled ventilation for commodities, such as eggs, meat and and the like, which require change in air circulation due to different temperature'and humidity conditions during storage and shipping, and has for its principal object to provide a case which may be ventilated or not as the user desires.

This appllcationis a continuation in part of my application on Controlled ventilated containers," filed December 31, 1943, Serial No. 516.411. and issued as Patent No. 2,404,065, dated July 16, 1946.

In the shipping and storage of many commodit es it s necessary that the container, therefore,

be ventilated as, for instance, in the storage of eg s wherein they are maintained in spaced relation and when said commodities are removed from the moist storage, it is desirable to close the case and stop further ventilation whereby the interior moisture is retained. It is also common to provide ventilation openings in the side of containers requiring, when placed in stacks in a storage space, that the individual stacks be spaced to provide proper ventilation of the commodities. By providing correct ventilation openings in such containers the number of openings required to provide proper ventilation is reduced, providing a stronger container, and the stacks may be placed side by side, thereby decreasing the space required for the commodities.

Other objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide side and end ventilation of containers and commodities therein; to provide a container adapted for ventilation of commodities, such as eggs, while in moist storage, and adapted to be closed to stop ventilation when removed from such storage; toprovide for selective side and end ventilation of containers; to provide a panel adjacent the walls of a container having ventilated openings therein for controlling the.

ventilation of the commodities in the container: to provide a container with an inner liner having ventilated openings selectively registrable with openings in the sides and ends of the container tails of structure, the preferred arrangement oi. which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container em- 1 bodying the present invention, portions being broken away to illustratethe structure thereof.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 showing a ventilation control panel partially removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the container substantially on a line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the container particularly illustrating the ventilated openings in the side walls thereof and portions. being broken away to illustrate the structure thereof.

. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on a line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 4 taken on a line 6-6, Fig. 4. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a container particularly adapted for. shipping and storage of eggs and other commodities wherein due to variation in the shipping and storage conditions, it is desirable to control the ventilation of the commodities therein. The container preferably includes side walls 2 and 3 and end walls 4 and 5, inturned flaps 6 and I being provided on the lower edges of the end walls Q and 5. Flaps 8 and 9 areprovided on the lower edges of the side walls '2 and 3 and adapted to be folded inwardly under flaps 6 and l and glued or stapled thereto to form the bottom of the box. Sealing strips may be applied to the flaps for sealing the lower portions of the container if desired. Side flaps l2 and I3 may be provided on the upper edges of the side walls 2 and 3 if desired. The upper ends of the end walls of thecontainer are preferably provided with flanges l4 and I5 erably having end flanges I8 and I9 foldable over the container end wall flanges I4 and M5. The

controlling ventilation of the respective compartments.

In accomplishingthese and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved deflanges l8 and 19 have told lines Zlland 2i spaced the cover in closedrelation to the container as 3 illustrated in Fig. 3. Downwardly extending side flaps 24 and 25 may also beprovided on-the cover member and, if desired, said side flanges may be secured to the end flanges on the cover member in any suitablemanner. a

Due to the fact that containers in the shipping and storage of eggs and like commodities. are stacked in tiers, it may be desirable to reinforce the bottom members of the container and also provide supports for the cover member to prevent collapse thereof. I, therefore, provide a container 7 inner liner including a partition member 26 adapted to be inserted transversely in the container and midway between the ends thereof to separate the interior of the container into compartments 21 and 29.

The inner liner preferably is formed of an elongated blank of the same material as the container and is preferably of the same width as the spacing between the sides 2 and 3 thereof.-

The blank is preferably folded at a central point as at 29 forming overlying panel members 39 and 3| which are of substantially the same height as the ends 4 and 5 of the container. Flaps 32 and 33 are preferably'provided on the lower ends of the panels 39 and 3| respectively and are of such length that they extend from the partition to adjacent the end walls 4 and5 of the container. Said flaps 32 and 33 are provided with fold'lines 34 and 35 spaced slightly from the end of the container to form upwardly extending panels 36. and 31 spaced from the end walls as at 38 to form recesses for the insertion of panels 39 and 40. In this construction an insert 4| may be placed over theupper faces of the bottom side flaps 8 and 9 of the container and extends subthe cover.

In order to provide ventilation of the commodities in the container and also permit the tiers of said container to' be stacked side by side, I, preferably provide ventilation openings 42 and 43 in the end walls 4 and 5 in .alignment with openings 44 and 45 in the panels 36 and 31 and openings'46 in the panels 39 and adapted to p be placed in alignment with the openings in the end walls and-the upwardly ext nding panels 36 and 31 toprovide ventilation through the ends of the container. Openings 4! may be provided in both panels of the midrib whereby ventilation may be had from end to end through the container. Since it is desirable that the ventilation be controlled, the panels 39 and 49 are removable and the openings in therespective panels so arranged that when said panels 39 and 49 are removed from the spaces 38 between the end walls and the upwardly extending members on the liner are inverted, the openings 46 will register with .the openings 42,-, 43 and respectively. In

this manner the ventilation of the container may be selectively controlled to provide ventilation for commodities under moist conditions and to provide a sealed container for commodities under 7 other conditions. I

If desired, a modified arrangement of the venti lation openings in the end" walls, upwardly extending members on, the liner and the panel members 39 and 40 may be used in which the ventilation openings are so arranged relative to each other that the panel member may be withdrawn in the same manner as in the preferred form and reversed from side to side, replaced in the space between the end wall and the upwardly extending liner member to arrange the ventilation openings in said panel out of registry with the openings in the end walls and the provided with ventilated openings Si in the end walls 52 thereof. Ventilation openings 53 and 54 are provided in the side walls 55 of the container. It will be here noted that the openings 53 are out of alignment with the openings 54 for a purpose later described. A cover 56 is provided for closing of the container in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1- to 3 inclusive.

A container is preferably provided including a partition member 51 for dividing the container into compartments 58 and 59. The inner liner is formed of an elongated blank having transverse fold lines 69 and 6| to form a bottom member 62 of substantially the same length as the'respective compartments, and upwardly extending panels 63 and 64 at each end thereof. The upwardly extending panels are preferably of such length that they extend to the top of the container walls and the panels adjacent the center of the 'container form the midrib or partition '51. The outer panels adjacent the ends of the container overlie the end walls.

. The partition 51 is provided with ventilated openings 65 and the upwardly extending Panels 63 and 64 are provided with ventilation openings 66 and 61 adapted toalign with the openings 5! in the end walls of the container when desired.

.of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and to pro-.

vide a triple thickness at the ends of the container.

Removable inner liners 69 and 19 are provided and adapted to engage'in the respective compartments 58 and 59 and are particularly adaptable for raising the commodities carried bythe container and reversing the position of the liners as later described. Each of the inner liners 69 and 19 is formed of elongated blanks having transverse fold lines as provided with the container inner liner to form a bottom member H of substantially the same length as the respective compartments 58 and 59. The upwardly extending panels 12 and 13 of each liner preferably are of such length that they extend to the top, of the container walls and are adapted to arrange either longitudinally or transversely of the container and the respective compartments thereof as will later be shown. When the inner liners 69 and 19 are transversely of the container as shown in Fig. 4, the panels 12 and "will form a double thickness forthe side walls of the container as indicated at 14 (Fig. 5).-

The upwardly extending panels 12 and 13 are provided with handholes 15 adjacent the upper edges. thereof to aid in grasping said panels for removing the respective liners from the container.

When the container is filled with commodities respective compartments may be grasped and said liners lifted from the container together with the entire contents of the-respective compartments. This structureis particularly advantageous in plants processing eggs with coatings or the like as the eggs can be removed, treated and replaced in the container with less labor and breakage. Even though the contents of the container are not removed for processing, there are times when it is desirable to transfer the contents from one container to another and in such transfers this structure saves time and labor and lessens the dangerof damage to the commodilties being handled.

The panels 12 and 13 are provided with ventilation openings 16 and [1. It will be noted that the openings 53 and 54 of the side wallsof the respective compartments are in alignment. The

openings 16 in the panel 12 are arranged so they ments. Should it be desired to have thecontainer entirely closed, the end panels 68 may be inserted so that the openings in the respective ends of the container will be closed. By inserting the inner panels 12 and 13 in the container so that the openings and 11 will be out'of alignment with the openings 53 and 54 in the respective compartments, the container will be entirely closed. Should it be desired to provide ventilation through the sides of the container, 1 the inner panels 12 and 13 may bereversed by turning them transversely so that-the openings. l6 and 11 will align withopenings 53 and 54 in the respective compartments. Y Ventilation may be provided through the openings 53'and 54 also by turning container. Should it also bedesired to provide ventilation through the ends of the container, the

such as eggs, the hand holes in the liners for the for selectively ventilating the interior of the container, the ventilation openingsfin the end wall and the partition being arranged relatively to the openings in the panel whereby reversal of the position of the panel controls the opening of the ventilation openings.

2. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular container having, inwardly turned flaps on the lower edge of the side and ends walls thereof, means for securing the inturned flaps together to form the bottom of the container, a filler member lying on certain of the inturned flaps forming the container, bottom and filling the space betweenthe other inturned flaps,a liner for the container including a parti tion member, outwardly directed members on the lower edge of the partition member adaptedto cover the bottom of the container, upwardly directed members on the outer ends of the bottom covering members adapted to overlie the ends of the container in spaced relation thereto, said ends and upwardly directed members having ventila-- tion openings therein, and removable panels be tween the container ends and saidupwardly directed members on the liner, said panels having ventilation openings adapted for registry with the openings in the end walls and upwardly directed members when in one position and out of registry therewith when reversed for controlling said ventilation of the container.

3. An eggcase comprising, a container having bottom, side and end walls, said side and end walls of' the container having ventilation openings therein, a liner removably mounted in the con- 1 tainer, said liner having a fold line at substam,

, tially the center thereof and folded downwardly the-inner panels l2 and 13 longitudinally of the, I

laterally and upwardly to form a partition, bottom and end panels for the container, said partition separating the containerin'to compartments and being provided with ventilation openings and the end panel having ventilation openings regiS-' tering with the ventilation openings in the end walls of the container, and a plurality of liners removably mounted in the'container including bottom members and upwardly extending panels,

the upwardly extending panels being provided panels 68 may be transposed so that the openings therein will align with the openings 5| in the ends of 'the container, as'described in the form of inverition shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

From the foregoing it is believed apparent that I- have provided a container adapted totake care of ventilated or not ventilated uses and that such 1. In a device of the character described, a container having side, end and bottom walls, a cover for closing said container, partitions mounted in the container adjacent the 'endwalls and spaced therefrom'to provide a recess therebetween, said end walls and partitions having'ventilatlon openings therein, a panel member slidable into the recess between an end wall and the respective partition member, said panel having openings therein collectively registrable with the ventilation openings in the end wall and the partition withventilation openings, the openings of one panel registering with the ventilation openings in one side wall of the container and the ventilation openings in the opposite panel being adapted for out-of-registry with the ventilation openings in the opposite side wall of the container, said liners beingreversible for controlling ventilation of the respective compartments.

4. An eggcase comprising, a container having substantially the center thereof and folded downwardly laterally and upwardly to form a parti- What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

tion, bottom and end panels for the container, said partition separating the container into com! partments and being provided with ventilation openings and the end panel having ventilation openings registering with the ventilation openings in the end walls of the container, and a plurality of liners removably mounted in the container including bottom members and upwardly extending panels, the upwardly extending panels being providedwith ventilation openings, the openings of one panel registering with the ventilation openings'in one side wall of the container and the ventilation openings in the opposite panel being adapted for'o'ut-of-registry with the ventilation openings in the opposite side wall of the container.

5. An egg case comprising, a container having bottom, side and end walls, said side and end walls of the container having ventilation openings therein, means for closing the ventilation openings in the end walls, a liner removably mounted in the container, said liner having a fold line at substantially the center thereof and folded downwardly laterally and upwardly to form a partition, bottom and end panelsfor the container. said partition separating the container into compartments and being provided with ventilation openings and the end panel having-ventilation openings registering with the ventilation openings in the end walls of the container, and a plurality of liners removably mounted in the container including bottom members and upwardly extending panels, the upwardly extending panels being provided with ventilation openings, the openings of one panel registering with the ventilat'lon openings in one side wall of the container and the ventilation openings in the opposite panel being adapted for out-of-registry with the ventilation openings in the opposite side wall of the container, said liners being reversible for controlling ventilation of the respective compartments. 1

6. An egg case comprising, a container having bottom, side and end walls, said side and end walls of the container having ventilation openings therein, a liner removably mounted in the container, said liner having a fold line at substantially the center thereof and folded downwardly laterally and upwardly to form a partition, bottom and end panels for the container, said partition separating the container into compartments and being provided with ventilation openings and the end panel having ventilation openings registering with the ventilationopenings in the end walls of the container, panels insertable in the end walls and partition for regulating ventilation therethrough, and a plurality of liners removably mounted in the container including bottom members and upwardly extending panels, the upwardly extending panels being provided with ventilation openings, the openings of one panel registering with the ventilation openings in one side wall of the container and the ventilation openings in the opposite panel being adapted forout-of-registry with the ventilation openings in the opposite side wall of the container, said liners being reversible for controlling ventilation of the respective compartments.

7. An egg case comprising, a container having.

bottom and side walls, at least two of said side walls having ventilation openings therein, said opening being located diflerently in the respective side walls, and a liner removably mounted in the container including a bottommember and upwardly extending panels having ventilation openings therein adapted for registry with the openings in said side walls of the container, said liner being reversible so as to provide ventilation to the interior of the container when the liner is in one position and to close the ventilation' open-.

ings when in reversed position.

8. An egg case comprising, a container having 1 container.

IRVING HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS m the Number Name A Date 1,216,031 Wilcox Feb. 13, 1917 1,652,629 Markey Dec. 13, 1927 1,752,177 Hilkemeyer Mar. 25, 1930 1,882,524 Sherman Oct. 11, 1932 2,233,221 Olivier Feb. 25, 1941 2,404,065 Hill July 16, 1946 

